Automatic bucket-dumping mechanism.



No. 713,932. l 4Patented Nov. la, |902.

T. E. -Annesun AUTUMA'TIC BUCKET UUHHNG IIEGHANISM. (Applimion med Apr.1s, 1'901.) (No Model.) k 2 Sheets-Sheet I 4 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEK Patented Nov.. ia, |9'02.`-

T. E. ANnERsoN" AUTOMATIC BUCKET DUMPING MECHANI'SM.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1901.)'

ZShSQtSF-S'heet 2.

(No Model.)

A TTORNEX ll'nrrnn trarne Partnr OFFICE.

TRY E. ANDERSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSICrNORV TO DAVID P. MCDONALD,OF DENVER, COLORADO, AND FAIRBANKS, MORSE dt CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.-

AUTOMATIC BUCKET-DUli/iPlNG MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,932, dated November18, 1902.

Application iilecl April 15,1901. Serial No. 55,995. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TURY E. ANDERSON,

a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bucket-DumpingMechanism; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic dumping mechanism forore-buckets, my object being to provide apparatus of this class whichshall be comparatively simple in construction, economical in cost,reliable, durable, and efficient in use; and to these ends the-invention consists of the features, arrangements, and combinationshereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated auembodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedore-bucket-dumping apparatus, the carriage being shown in two positions,one position being in full lines and the other in dotted lines, and thebucket being shown in three positions, one in full lines, the second indotted lines, and the last in broken lines. Fig. 2 is a section takenthrough the tracks, showing the carriage in end elevation and on alarger scale.. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a section taken on the line c at, Fig. 3, looking downward. Fig. 5 isa top view of the carriage shown in position on the track. Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the bearing for a trunnion of the bucket-dumpingplatform shown on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a top view of the same, thesupporting -standard being shown in cross-section. Figs. 8 and 9 arefragmentary side views of the carriage, the track, and thecarriage-holding dog, the parts being shown in two positions and on alarger scale. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view of the bucket and itsdumping-platform.` Fig. 11 is a similar View observed from a position atright angles to Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of thecarriage-axles and its wheels, the axle being provided `with aguide-eye. d

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable framework erected at the mouth ofa miningshaft 6, which is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The topof this framework is composed of two separated inclined bars or beams 5,whose lower extremities are located directly above the mining-shaft 6and whose ascent is gradual to a point above the dump or the locationwhere the buckets are to be emptied. To the bars 5a are secured twotrack-rails 7, whose lower extremities are bent upwardly, as shown at 7,and reinforced by a brace 8 and form a stop for the carriage, which, asshown in the drawings, is composed of four wheels 9, journaled on axles10, upon which are mounted two I-beams 12, to which are secured boxes 13for the journals` of a pulley or sheave 14, havinga grooved periphery toreceive the rope or cable,which is connected with the ore-bucket 16 atone extremity and the hoisting-drum 17 at the other extremity. To thecentral part of the lower axle of the carriage is made fast an eye 18,forming a guide for the cable, the said guide being located in the planeof the sheave 14.-. The cable is provided with a stop 15, located ashort distance above the bucket, the said stop being too large to passthrough the guideeye 18. To the bottom of the bucket is attached a ball19 by means of a short chain 20. The construction of this pendant devicemay be varied at will, so long as it performs the function hereinafterset forth. Connected with the frame at the dumping-point are twoseparated standards 21, to each of which is attached a bearing 22,having a vertical slot 23 for a trunnion 24, whose extremity normallyoccupies a position in the bottom 23a of each slotted bearing. As shownin the drawings, these bearings are composed of angleiron. They may,however, be of any snit` able construction. Upon the two trunnions 2 Amassa 24 is mounted and made fast a platform or plate 25, provided witha slot 25, open at one end and closed at the other end. This deviceforms the bucket-dumping platform and is provided with parts extendingbelow its axis, whereby its center of gravity is so regulated that whenadjusted it will normally maintain a position with the open end of itsslot toward the upwardly-movingbucket,so that the chain or pendant 20will enter the slot. The closed extremity of the slot is located forwardor to the right, referring to Fig. 1, of a vertical plane passed throughthe axis of the dumping-platform, so that when the bucket seats itselfon the platform and is released it will tip in the direction indicatedby the arrow in Fig. 1. This is essential, since a tip in the oppositedirection would allow the bucketpendant to slip out of the slot in theplatform, and thus render the device inoperative.

Upon the upper part of the framework between the track bars or beams 5ais pivotally mounted, as shown at 2U, a gravity-dog 27, normally restingon a cross-bar 28, located in the rear of the pivot or toward the lefttherefrom, referring to Figs. 1, 8, and 9. The free extremity of thisdog is hook-shaped and beveled or curved, so that when the forward axleof the carriage engages it the dog will be raised to permit the hook tocatch the axle. (See Fig. 9.) This occurs at the same time that thebucket-pendant reaches the forward extremity of the slot 25a. The cableis then slackened to allow the bucket to seat on the platform and dump.(See broken-line position in Fig. 1.) When in the dumped or invertedposition, as shown, the bucket is suspended by the pendant 20, whoseball 19 is too large to pass through the slot 25a. Forwardof its hookedextremity the dog 27 is provided with a swinging link 29 or othersuitable or equivalent device. After the bucketisdumped thehoisting-drum is turned to operate the cable and bring the bucket to theerect position and also to bring the stop 15a on the cable to engagementwith the guideeye 18 of the carriage-axle. A further pull on the cablecauses the carriage to move upwardly on the trac-k until the upper axlepasses above the link 29. The cable is then released or slackened toallow the carriage to move downwardly, and as the axle engages the linkin its downward movement the latter swings into the notch of the hook onthe dog and closes said notch, allowing the axle to pass down withoutengaging the hook. (See Fig. 8.)

From the foregoing description it is believed the operation of myautomatic bucketdumping mechanism will be readily understood. The cable15 is constantly in engagement with the pulley or sheave 14. As thebucket is drawn up out of the shaft 6 the sheave 14 rotates; but thecarriage does not move until the stop 15a on the cable engages theguide-eye 18. The carriage then begins to move upwardly on its track inresponse to the pull of the cable which is winding on the hoistingdrum.The bucket and carriage travel upward together until the bucketpendantenters and reaches the closed end of the slot 25 of the dumping-platformand until the hook of the dog 27 grabs the upper axle of the carriage.The cable is then slackened to allow the bucket to seat itself upon theplatform (see Fig. 11 and dotted lines in Fig. 1) and dump in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1, since the center of gravity of thebucket and the platform is at the right of a vertical plane passedlongitudinally through the axis of the bucket-dumping platform.

As soon as the bucketis dumped the hoisting-drum is reversed to operatethe cable and bring the bucket to the erect position and cause the stop15a on the cable to engage the guide-eye 18 of the carriage, after whichthe carriage is drawn upwardly on its track until its axle passes to aposition forward of the link 29 of the dog. The cable is againslackened, allowing the carriage to move downwardly, When its axleengages the link and swings it into the notchof the dog, thus preventingthe axle from catching on the hook. The carriage and bucket then movedown the inclined track together, maintaining the same or substantiallythe same relative position until the carriage reaches its lowest limitof movement, when the bucket is in the position above and ready todescend into the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In automaticbucket-dumping mechanism, the combination-with a bucket, a cable, aframework and a track thereon, of a carriage mounted on the track, asheave or pulley mounted on the carriage, and engaged by the cable, thearrangement being such that the bucket is raised vertically to thedesired height by applying power to the cable while passing over thesheave, a stop on the cable to engage the carriage and limit theindependent 'movement of the bucket, whereby the carriage is caused totravel up the inclined track, a pendant attached to the bucket, apivoted platform provided with a slot adapted to receive the pendant ofthe bucket, the lower extremity of the pendant being enlarged to preventit from passing through the slot,.vertical guides located beneath thetrack and beneath its ends in which said platform is vertically movableand capable of rotation at either end and means for holding the carriageagainst downward movement on the track when the cable is slackened toallow the bucket to rest on the platform which is arranged to tip anddump the bucket, the latter being suspended by its pendant when in theinverted position, and means mounted on the holding means forautomatically releasing the carriage as the latter is drawn upwardlywhereby the carriage is allowed to move downwardly on the inclined trackby gravity as the cable is slackened.

2. In automatic bucket-dumping mechan- IOO IIO

ism, the combination with a bucket and cable connect-ed therewith, of aframework provided with an inclined track, a carriage mounted on thetrack, a sheave jonrnaled on the carriage, the bucket-cable passing overthe sheave, a stop on the cable, arranged to engage the carriage andlimit the movement of the bucket independently of the carriage,anormally balanced platform,vertical guides beneath the track andbetween its ends in which the platform is vertically movable and capableof rotation at either end, a pendant attached to the bucket and arrangedto catch on the platform, means for holding the carriage againstdownward movement while the cable is slackened to allow the bucket torest on the platform, the arrangement being such that the platform istipped and the bucket dumped and suspended in an inverted position, andmeans for automatically releasing the carriage as the latter is drawnupwardly on the track whereby as the cable is subsequently slackened,the carriage and bucket will move downwardly on the track to theiroriginal position.

3. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a framework provided withan inclined track, a carriage mounted on the track, a sheave mounted 011the carriage, and over which the cable passes, means for automaticallylocking the carriage against downward movement on the track as the cableis slackened to allow the bucket to dump, and means for releasing thecarriage as the latter is drawn upwardly 0n the track, a tiltingplatform, and vertical guides between the ends of the track in whichsaid platform is vertically movable and capable of rotation at theirends by the action of the bucket.

4. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a framework provided withan inclined track, a carriage mounted on the track, a sheave mounted onthe carriage, and over which the cable passes, means for automaticallylocking the carriage against downward movement on the track as the cableis slackened to allow the bucket to dump, means for automaticallyreleasing the carriage as the latter is drawn upwardly after the bucketis dumped, whereby as the cable is slackened, the carriage and bucketmove downwardly together on the track,vertical guides between the endsof the track, and a tilting platform vertically movable in said guidesand capable of rotation at their ends by the action of the bucket.

5. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a framework provided withan inclined track, a carriage mounted on the track, a sheave jonrnaledon the carriage and engaged by the cable, vertical guides beneath thetrack and between its ends, a tilting platform vertically movable insaid guides and capable of rotation at their ends by the action of thebucket, a dog mounted on the framework and arranged to automaticallycatch and hold the carriage while the cable is slackened to allow thebucket to dump, and means for releasing the dog as the carriage is drawnupwardly on the track from the dumping position, whereby the carriage isallowed to move downwardly on the inclined track bygravity as the cableis slackened.

6. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a framework provided witha track, a carriage mounted on the track, asheave journaled on thecarriage and engaged by the cable, a pendant connected with the bucket,a pivoted dumping-platform provided with a slot which the bucket-pendantis adapted to enter as the bucket is carried along by the travelingcarriage, vertical guides beneath the track and between its ends inwhich the platform is vertically movable and capable of rotation at itsends by the action of the bucket, the arrangement being such that as thecable is slackened the bucket engages the platform which turns on itspivot and dumps the bucket which is suspended by its pendant in aninverted position, means for locking the carriage on the track duringthe bucket-dumping operation, and means for releasing the carriage asthe latter is drawn upwardly on the track.

7. The combination with a framework provided with an inclined track, ofa bucket and cable, a traveling sheave engaged by the cable, a pivoteddumping-platform, normally balanced, vertical guides beneath the trackand between its ends, in which the platform is vertically movable andcapable of rotation at their ends, trunnionson which the platform ismounted, and ways in which the trunnions are arranged to slidevertically whereby the bucket and platform may movetogetherasuitabledistance,a pendantattached to the bucket and adapted tocatch on the platform as the bucket travels along with the sheave, thearrangement being such .that as the cable is slackcned the bucketengages the platform which turns and dumps the bucket, the latter beingsuspended by the pendant in an inverted position.

8. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a framework provided withan inclined track, a carriage mounted on said track, a sheave mounted onthe carriage and over which the cable passes, a pendant attached to thebucket, a pivoted, normally balanced dumping platform provided with aslot which the pendant of the bucket is adapted to engage as the buckettravels along with the carriage, the length of the slot beingsuch thatas the pendant reaches its closed eX- tremity and the cable is slackenedtok allow the bucket to engage the platform, the latter is tipped andthe bucket dumped, trunnions on which the platform is'mounted, and Waysin which the trunnions are arranged to slide vertically whereby thebucket and platform move together a suitable distance.

9. The combination with a bucket and cable, of aframework provided-withan inclined track, a carriage mounted on said track, a

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sheave journaled in the carriage and engaged by the cable, a pendantattached to the bucket, a dumping-platform slotted to receive thependant'of the bucket, trunnions on which the platform is mounted, waysin which the trunnions are arranged to slide vertically whereby thebucket and platform may move together a suitable distance, a dogarranged to automatically lock the carriage against downward movementwhen the cable is slackened to allow the bucket to dump,the dog having anotch which engages a part of the carriage, a swing device attached tothe dog and arranged to swing into the notch of the dog automaticallywhen engaged by the carriage, whereby the carriage is allowed to traveldownwardly on the inclined track as the cable is slackened.

. 10. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a frame having atrack, a carriage mounted on the track and engaged by the cable,vertical guides beneath the track, and between its ends, a tiltingplatform vertically movable in said guides and capable of yrotation atits ends by the action of the bucket, means for automatically dumpingthe bucket when the latter has traveled with the carriage apredetermined distance, a dog arranged to automatically lock thecarriage against downward movement when the cable is slackened to allowthe bucket to dump, the dog having a notch which engages a part of thecarriage, and a device arranged to swing into the notch of the dogautomatically when engaged by the carriage, whereby the carriage isallowed to travel downwardly on the inclined track as the cable isslackened. 11. The combination with a bucket and cable, of a track, acarriage mounted on the track and engaged by the .cable and with whichthe bucket travels as power is applied to the cable, a pendant attachedto the bucket,`

a pivoted dumping-platform having a depending part adapted to maintainthe platform in its normal position, trunnions on which the platform ismounted, ways in which the tru nnions are arranged to slide verticallywhereby the bucket and platform may move together a suitable distance,the platform being slotted to receive the bucket-pendant, and means forlocking the carriage in place while the cable is slackened to allow thebucket to dump through the instrumentality of the platform.

12. The combination with a bucket and cable, of an inclined track, acarriage mounted thereon and engaged by the cable whereby the buckettravels with the carriage as power is applied to the cable, a pendantattached to the bucket, a dumping-platform having trunnions and aslotand constructed to maintain itself iu position for the pendant of thebucket to enter the slot as the bucket travels with the carriage,vertical uprights beneath the track and between its ends, and waystherein in which said trunnions are vertically movable and capable ofrotation at the ends thereof by the action of the bucket, and

means for locking the carriage in place while the cable is slackened toallow the bucket to dump, and means for releasing the carriage as thelatter is drawn upwardly, whereby as the cable is subsequentlyslackened, the carriage moves downwardly on the track.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TURY E. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

DORA C. Stuck, MARY O. LAMB.

